O
otrrl
Guest
Blood is a frequently encountered word in the Bible, both in the Jewish Scriptures and in the New Testament. The book of Leviticus has a reputation for being boring, because it contains the rules for animal sacrifices, with a particular focus on the blood of the sacrifices.
I’m not sure how I pieced all this together. We read that “the life is in the blood” – that’s why it’s so important. All of the tabernacle articles and even the priests are made holy by having blood put on them. Along the way, we read, though, that people are not supposed to drink or “eat” the blood – the blood (life) belongs to God. Only when we get to the New Testament is the situation reversed, where WE are commanded to eat Christ’s body and drink his blood. That is how we “abide” in Christ and he in us, when we have his life in us.
This has nothing to do with cannibalism. It is God’s revealed plan for us. You might say that consuming blood is prohibited until God reveals his means for our salvation. It is only the divine blood that has this power and effect.
I’m not sure how I pieced all this together. We read that “the life is in the blood” – that’s why it’s so important. All of the tabernacle articles and even the priests are made holy by having blood put on them. Along the way, we read, though, that people are not supposed to drink or “eat” the blood – the blood (life) belongs to God. Only when we get to the New Testament is the situation reversed, where WE are commanded to eat Christ’s body and drink his blood. That is how we “abide” in Christ and he in us, when we have his life in us.
This has nothing to do with cannibalism. It is God’s revealed plan for us. You might say that consuming blood is prohibited until God reveals his means for our salvation. It is only the divine blood that has this power and effect.
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